AJKPC not contesting the MLC’s election: Shafiq Mir

Jammu, November 07 (Scoop News) –In the wake of latest development where the Jammu and Kashmir government have announced election of 4 MLC’s seat from Panchayat quota.

Shafiq Mir and Anil Sharma Chairman and General Secretary of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference (AJKPC)while addressing an emergency press conference outside the press club,had made it clear that no member of All Jammu and Kashmir Panchayat Conference shall contest the MLC’s election and they shall continue their fight for the empowerment of the Panchayati Raj institution in the state of Jammu and Kashmir. We are here to strengthen democracy at grass root level, at Panchayat halqa level. We are more concerned for the safety and security of our Panches and Sarpanches not to become MLCs.

The AJKPC leaders accused and blamed the J & K government that it had deliberately announced the MLC’s elections from Panchayat quoto just to divert the attention from the real issue of empowering Panchayat institutions in the state. These elections are nothing but an eyewash and Panches and Sarpanches have never made any such demand . Chairman AJKPC Further clearified that when already MLAs and MLCs were against their empowerment why should we add four more in the this brigade . The Panchayat Conference leaders have appealed to all the Panches and Sarpanches of the state, if some body (Politician) comes to them for vote they must put three conditions before him like Implement 73rd amendment first and then come for vote , secondly, announce the salary for Panches and Sarpanches and then come for vote, announce the security for Panches and Sarpanches and then come for vote, establish the three tier Panchayats first and then come for votes .

Before announcing and holding the MLC’s elections the state government should have implemented 73rd amendment of the Constitution regarding Panchayati Raj .

We appeal the Election Commission of India to hold on these election till 3 tier system of the Panchayati Raj Institution is established in the state. There are no Block Development Councils, District Development and Planning Board(Zila Parishad). There are not even Panchayat Level Judicial bodies instituted, we fail to understand that’ what compelled the state government to announce these elections.

Anil Sharma, General Secretary of AJKPC even accused the opposition parties for not raising the issue of Panchayat empowerment and playing politics over the issue. Both ruling and opposition parties are having hand in glove. They speak something on the floor of the house and take another stand in practice.

The AJKPC leaders also criticized the statement of union Panchayati Raj minister where he had shown helplessness on providing security to the Panches and Sarpanches . This is shameful that the government has let the innocent panchayat memebers at the mercy of terror outfits. The Panchayat leaders once again reiterated their demand of security and empowerment of the Panchayati Raj institutions in the state which is possible only with the full implementation of 73 amendment. .Others who were present in the press conference included provincial president Jammu Kubhushan Khajuria, member excutive body Mohammad Aslam Kohli, Madan Lal, Vijay Saini, Goutem Singh and Alam Chowdhary .